What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On may 27, 2024, at approximately 0800 mtn, aircraft flew to a local ranch and landed in a field to provide a ride to 3 passengers. Shortly after departure, during the initial climb, the helicopter had a total loss of engine power (the pilot heard the engine whining down). The pilot initiated an autorotation. The aircraft collided with terrain. The pilot and two passengers were uninjured and one passenger sustained minor injuries. A post crash fire insued contained within the engine mid-section and was imediately extinguished.
The on site investigation revealed that the helicopter landed hard on a dirt road, the landing gear collapsed and tail boom separated. The helicopter initially had 100 gallons of fuel when it started and the pilot pumped out rest of fuel about 40 gallons. Control continuity check was performed and found to be normal. All aircraft components were contained within the scene.
An engine tear down revealed that the one thermocoupler was not safety wired and the other was found dislogeded.
As the FAA filed it
ON MAY 27, 2024, AT APPROXIMATELY 0800 MTN, AIRCRAFT FLEW TO A LOCAL RANCH AND LANDED IN A FIELD TO PROVIDE A RIDE TO 3 PASSENGERS. SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE, DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, THE HELICOPTER HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER (THE PILOT HEARD THE ENGINE WHINING DOWN). THE PILOT INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN. THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE UNINJURED AND ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. A POST CRASH FIRE INSUED CONTAINED WITHIN THE ENGINE MID-SECTION AND WAS IMEDIATELY EXTINGUISHED.
THE ON SITE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD ON A DIRT ROAD, THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND TAIL BOOM SEPARATED. THE HELICOPTER INITIALLY HAD 100 GALLONS OF FUEL WHEN IT STARTED AND THE PILOT PUMPED OUT REST OF FUEL ABOUT 40 GALLONS. CONTROL CONTINUITY CHECK WAS PERFORMED AND FOUND TO BE NORMAL. ALL AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS WERE CONTAINED WITHIN THE SCENE.
AN ENGINE TEAR DOWN REVEALED THAT THE ONE THERMOCOUPLER WAS NOT SAFETY WIRED AND THE OTHER WAS FOUND DISLOGEDED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N57948 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.